Euro 2016 qualifiers: British losers Gibraltar and Scotland battle

Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | October 11, 2015

England and Northern Ireland have both qualified for the Euro 2016 finals, while Wales and the Republic of Ireland have secured at least a play-off berth, but there are two British (Isles) nations that have missed out.

Oversees territory Gibraltar (28/1 to win with Coral) and Scotland (heavy odds-on 1/50 favourites) will not take to the plane to France next summer, but face each other in the former’s adopted home of Faro in Portugal in Group D.

While Gordon Strachan’s men will be left wondering what could have been as they let Poland grab a late equaliser to end their Euro finals hopes, they will still have enough quality to see off GFA, who have scored just twice and conceded 50 this campaign.

Scotland beat Gibraltar 6-1 in the reverse fixture, and are highly tempting 29/10 shouts to net over 5.5 against them again. On top of that, you can take great odds of 10/3 for the visitors to win and both teams score.

Steven Fletcher hit a hat-trick in that last meeting between the two, and also got a great goal against Poland last time out, so will certainly be looking to add to his tally of four strikes these qualifiers.

Shaun Maloney also has four this campaign, while Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie will still be in buoyant mood after his screamer at Hampden Park.

For Jeff Wood’s Gibraltar, Lee Casciaro was the man who temporarily stunned the Scottish crowd after his early equaliser immediately after a Maloney penalty. Bristol Rovers attacker Jake Gosling, meanwhile, is one to watch too being the only Gibraltar player to have scored more than one international goal.

But former Portsmouth midfielder Liam Walker has been perhaps the one shining light for the tiny territory, after troubling keepers, including Germany’s Manuel Neuer, in a number of matches and being the heartbeat of the team.

Whatever the result or scoreline, neither nation can move up a place but they will certainly be keen to end the qualifying campaign on a high after disappointment.

Coral’s top tip: Gibraltar got a goal against Scotland in their away fixture, so take tempting odds of 10/3 for Strachan’s men to win and both teams score.